Wichita area drought restrictions extended

The City of Wichita is extending its drought restrictions beyond September due to the continued decline in water levels at Cheney Lake. The city also intends to begin imposing fines to those who breach the rules.

“We continue to see a decline in levels at Cheney Reservoir,” Megan Lovely, Wichita communications manager, said. “We now sit at less than 59% full overall and less than 67% of the 12-month average of the conservation pool.”

Wichita is currently in Stage 2 of its drought response plan. It will move to Stage 3 if the conservation pool’s 12-month average falls below 50%.

Under Stage 2, customers can water on their one assigned day of the week. But the city says some people have been caught watering on other days, too.

So far, the city has only issued warning letters, 302 of them, to people suspected of violating the restrictions, but Lovely said that will change now. “Going forward, staff plans to increase enforcement, including issuance of fines if warranted,” she said.

For most Wichita water customers, Stage 3 would mean no watering of lawns and non-vegetable gardens and no private pool use, among other restrictions.